Leaders of technology companies, including Intel, said they are concerned that a lottery for foreign workers could result in damaging delays to projects.

Demand is so high for the 85,000 H-1B visas that make up the U.S. government limit for this year that 65,000 of those may be awarded through a lottery, according to Bloomberg News.

Random selection means more risk for the technology companies that dominate these visas, according to Bloomberg, and also may leave them waiting for months to find out if their employees are chosen.

Government and company officials say the cap on the H-1B visas could be reached within five days after the application period opens April 1.

If applications exceed the limit in that time period, which the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services has said could happen, the slots will be awarded by lottery rather than by order of filing.

Technology companies including Intel Corp., which has a facility in Rio Rancho, say more H-1B visas would keep jobs in the U.S. and prevent the uncertainty caused by a lottery.

“That puts a real constraint on our ability to hire the skilled workers we need to allow us to innovate, create new products and create new jobs,” Peter Muller, director of government relations for Intel, told Bloomberg.

The employer-sponsored visa allows 65,000 professionals with a college degree or equivalent experience to work in the U.S. for three years with extensions to six years and beyond. An additional 20,000 slots are available for the first petitions for employees with a master’s degree or higher from a U.S. university. That allows for 85,000 H-1B workers plus those granted under other exemptions, according to Bloomberg.

“It really is a race,” said Neil Ruiz, a senior policy analyst at Brookings Institution, told Bloomberg. Immigration is already a hot topic in Washington, and he said demand for H-1Bs could focus the issue more intensely. “If the cap is reached fast, that will spark controversy,” Ruiz told Bloomberg.

505.348.8323 | ggerew@bizjournals.com

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